We had "strong political ties" with the Shah of Iran... We have "strong political ties" with South Korea and Japan and lots of European countries too.

The US has had many "strong political ties" since WW II. That's part of the reason many foreign countries count on the US to intervene in foreign conflicts, thereby sacrificing our young men and women on their behalf.

GW and TJ fully understood the perils of political entanglements, and warned us of them:

"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliance with any portion of the foreign world" - George washington